Adventures with Ava: Gardening with Native Plants

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Above: Ava Marie with Carrie Engle at Valley View Farms. —Courtesy of WBAL TV

The next time you’re walking through your neighborhood, see if you notice a new trend: A patch of lawn that’s been converted into a butterfly garden or a traffic island transformed into a no-mow zone. Carrie Engel, a familiar face from WBAL TV’s Sunday Gardener and the retail greenhouse manager at Valley View Farms, says it’s all part of a renewed effort that puts more emphasis on native plants.

Native plants are species that have survived in an ecosystem over a long period of time without human intervention. Over time, these plants have had to adapt to their local climate, soil, and animals. As a result, native plants are not only easier to maintain, but they also improve the health of the overall environment.

“I think we’ve gotten away from having a perfectly manicured lawn,” says Engel. “Some people want a more natural look, or less maintenance, or even to help out pollinators.”

THE BENEFITS OF NATIVE PLANTS INCLUDE:
• Supporting wildlife by providing appropriate food and shelter
• Resilience to droughts and other extreme weather
• Less maintenance (including watering), fertilizers, and pesticides
• Preventing water run-off and improved soil health Engel says a good way to start is to add a native plant each time a non-native plant dies in your landscape. But as with any gardening, it’s all about putting the “right plant in the right place.”

STEPS TO A HEALTHY GARDEN INCLUDE:
• Correct soil pH and nutrients
• Appropriate sunlight, including time of day
• Enough water to establish the plant in the first year
• Caution with pesticides that can harm pollinators Looking to add more natives? Rachel Fisher, the perennial manager at Valley View Farms, listed these as the top plants in Maryland:

BLACK-EYED SUSAN (RUDBECKIA HIRTA)
• Blooms June-October
• Prefers full sun to partial sun
• Attracts many pollinators, including butterflies and bees
• The seed is eaten by songbirds, especially goldfinches

BUTTERFLY WEED (ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA)
• Fragrant flowers during summer and early fall
• Prefers full sun • Low maintenance and drought-tolerant
• Well-known for attracting monarch butterflies
• Deer tend to leave it alone

SWEET PEPPERBUSH (CLETHRA ALNIFOLIA)
• Fragrant flowers in mid to late summer
• Leaves turn gold in the fall
• Prefers full sun to partial shade
• Good for attracting bees and butterflies

I’d love to hear about your garden. Have you incorporated any native plants? Reach out to me on social: @AvaWBAL